Heidmar’s Board of Directors. reacted swiftly to the untimely death of CEO Marc La Monte, appointing Ben Ognibene to the position of interim Chief Executive Officer.
Ognibene became Heidmar’s COO in July 2013. That promotion followed a long and successful career at almost every level of the company’s Pool management business, during which time he worked closely with both Pool partners and more recently chartering clients.
Ognibene started at Heidmar in 2004 focusing on the creation of Heidmar’s Aframax Pool, Sigma Tankers. In 2008 he was instrumental in establishing the company’s Suezmax Pool, Blue Fin Tankers.
In 2010 Mr. Ognibene was promoted to Director of Projects where he was responsible for the supervision of all of Heidmar’s Pool Managing Directors, and in 2012 he became Vice President, Commercial, responsible for the company’s commercial services to all of Heidmar’s Pools.
Ognibene’s shipping career began in 1995 as a tanker broker with Clarkson’s Connecticut subsidiary, Seabrokers.
His appointment by the Board is indicative of the depth of management skills assembled by Mr. La Monte and his predecessors.
Details of services for Mr. La Monte are being developed and will be shared shortly.